Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Liver Diseases

Liver diseases represent a major global health challenge, yet current treatment options remain insufficient, highlighting the need for new therapeutic strategies. Recent research underscores the crucial role of the gut microbiota and their metabolites in liver disease progression. Emerging evidence suggests that bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs), membrane-bound vesicles secreted by bacteria, play a critical role in hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, metabolic dysregulation, and tumor development, while commensal and probiotic-derived BEVs exhibit protective effects against these pathologies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of BEVs and their diverse roles in liver disease progression and treatment. Additionally, we discuss the current challenges in BEV research and propose future directions to improve our understanding of their effects on liver health and their potential therapeutic applications.